Letter-file.



No. 646,360. Patented Mar. 27, I900.

H. s. cuivtn.

LETTER FILE.

Application filed Sept. 9, 1899.;

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

:45 646,360. Patented Mar. 27, I900. H. S. CULVER: LETTER FILE.

iApplication filed Sept. 9, 1899 (No Model.) 2 Sheets-$heet 2.

M I WAT How wa m: Ncmms PETERS cu. wo'rou'mou wAsnmcTun, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY SL'OULVER, OF LONDON, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO MARY D. OULVER,

OF SAME PLACE.

LETTER-FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 646,360, dated March 27, 1900.

Application filed September 9, 1899- Serial No. 729,956. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY S. CULVER, a citizen of the United States, residing at London,in the Province of Ontario and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter-Files,of which the following is a specification.

My said invention consists in an improved construction and arrangement of parts of a bill or letter file, whereby a file is provided possessing all the advantages of ordinary billfiles and one which will hold the papers flat and secure from dust and which will be inexpensive to construct and-very durable, all as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of my improved files in its oase,which isopen, showing the bills or letters as they appear when filed therein; Fig. 2, a cross-section looking in the direction indicated by the arrows from the dotted line 2 2 in Fig. 3, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the file separate from the case and the base provided with an ear at its top by which it may be suspended. Otherwise the construction is the same as that shown in the principal views, the two parts of the base being shown separated to better illustrate the form and construction of parts.

In said drawings the portions marked A represent the casing, which preferably surrounds the file proper, B the fixed base, and B the sliding base.

The casing A consists of a bottom board of proper size with two portions, each constituting, with said bottom, half a box, hinged to its edges. These hinged portions consist of two sides set at right angles, provided with two end pieces, the whole of dimensions re quired to make a casing of the desired size when folded together. The adjacent top edges are provided one with a catch a and the other with its keeper a, by which said parts of the casing are secured together when closed. Said catch may be of the character shown or any suitable catch for the purpose, as will be readily understood. Said casing may be of any appropriate material, such as turned-over or curved tops,which are rigidly secured thereto at their lower ends and are formed with tapered faces at their outer or free ends. Longitudinal ribs or ways d are mounted on the base B, extending, substantially, from end to end thereof. Between said ways at the lower end is mounted a keeper The sliding base B is of an area sufficient to furnish a suitable support for the letters and is formed with its edges turned under to form grooves for engaging the ways d and at its lower end on its under side it is provided with a spring-catch b connected with a post or pull 5 which extends down through the part from the top and furnishes the means for disengaging the same from keeper 1) on the part B, with which said catch is adapted to engage when the parts are assembled and in closed position. Across the top of said part B a reinforcing-strip is mounted, from which Spikes or posts W, with tapered points, extend upward and to which theyare rigidly secured. When the part B is mounted on the slides and slid upward to the limit of its motion, the tapered tops of the posts 12 and the tapered ends of the uprights b are adapted to come together and form substantially a smooth joint, permitting the papers on the posts to be turned over onto the uprights to allow the examination of papers beneath or to place thereon other papers in their proper position, as in an index, as is usual.

When. it is desired to remove papers from the pile or place additional papers thereon, the catch b is released from the keeper 5 by pulling upward on the knob bfiwhen the part B may be slid back to free the tops of the posts I) from theends of the uprights b sufficiently to permit of the addition or transfer. When the work is done, the parts are again employed only as a transfer-case.

closed, the catch engaging and holding them together. When not in use for examination or filing, the casing A is closed and secured by the catch (1,, thus protecting the papers from dust and all disturbing or destructive elements; or the construction shown in Fig. 4 maybe used as the active file and the casing use when the file is full the sliding partB, with the letters carried thereon, is removed and slid into one of said cases, which is then closed and filed away.

A follower B is mounted on the posts I), being usually a metal plate, audits front edge is adapted to engage with a notched post b fixed between the uprights b on the base B, for the purpose of holding the papers flat and straight, being preferably of considerable weight to better adapt it for this purpose.

Having thus fully described my said invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a letter-file, the combination, of the main base having the curved uprights b fixcdlysecured near its forward end, and having ways 11 extending longitudinally along its top surface, a second base B removably mounted on the top of said main base, being mounted In such to slide thereon by means of flanges on its edges formed to engage said ways I), the up-,

rights I) fixedly mounted on the front end of said base B and arranged to meet and form a continuation of the downwardly-extending portion of the curved uprights b when in its forward position, and a spring-catch secured on the under side of said sliding base near its rear end and adapted to engage a keeper correspondingly located on the main base, substantially as set forth.

2. In a letter-file the combination of the main base carrying the curved uprights, a second base carrying the straight uprights and of an area to form a support for the letters filed thereon, said second base being mounted to slide on the top surface of said main base and be removed therefrom with the letters carried thereby, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at London, Ontario, this Mth day of August, A. D. 1899.

HENRY S. CULVER. 

